To make Lin Zedong fully concede, Gu Yezhou pulled surveillance footage from every camera near the villa district—even the ones along the streets.

If Lin Zedong had gone to Ping’an Apartments after Lin Shuyue dropped him off, he would have had no choice but to take a taxi.

It didn’t take long for Gu Yezhou to track down the driver from that night. The dashcam footage clearly captured Lin Zedong wearing a mask.

When he got out of the car, he paid via WeChat. The payment account led straight back to him.

Even with Lawyer Jin’s defense, once all the evidence was laid out in front of him, Lin Zedong deflated like a punctured balloon and confessed everything.

That night—

After Lin Shuyue drove him home, he contacted Xiaoyue to confirm Lin Zehui’s whereabouts.

At the same time, he had her arrange for someone to pull surveillance footage from the entertainment complex. When he saw Sang Ning in the footage, he let out a quiet breath of relief.

On the screen, Sang Ning looked anxious. There was no way she’d be returning to Ping’an Apartments anytime soon.

So Lin Zedong hailed a taxi and headed there himself. His goal was simple—to negotiate with Shi Li.

He knew the illustration Yang Tao had submitted came from Shi Li, but the copyright had already been transferred to Yang Tao, and from there to the Lin Group.

Every step of the process had been legally airtight.

But because of Lin Zedong’s obsessive nature, he couldn’t tolerate even the slightest blemish on the Lin Group’s reputation—at least not while it was under his control.

The moment he saw the heroine on the poster, he recognized her immediately. He also knew Shi Li had technically infringed on Sang Ning’s likeness. But since it had been stylized into a comic character with some alterations, pursuing legal action would be difficult.

What Lin Zedong feared was that Shi Li would notice the poster and make a scene on Weibo, creating negative publicity for the company.

But he was too late.

By the time he arrived at Ping’an Apartments, Shi Li had already updated his Weibo.

It was close to one in the morning. The building was deserted.

A cold wind howled through the corridors. Lin Zedong avoided the camera outside Sang Ning’s door, took the other staircase, and knocked on Shi Li’s door.

Shi Li had never seen him before. “Who are you?” he asked, confused.

Lin Zedong took out his phone and pulled up the poster illustration. “I know the woman in this image.”

Shi Li’s expression sharpened with suspicion. He lowered his voice and immediately peeked toward the neighboring door. Seeing no light inside, he relaxed slightly.

“Come in. We’ll talk inside.”

Lin Zedong entered smoothly. The layout of the apartment was simple—only the bedroom was separated off to one side.

The first thing he saw was the painting on the easel. Without thinking, he reached out to touch it.

He had barely brushed it for three seconds when Shi Li snapped, “What are you doing? Don’t touch my painting!”

Shi Li valued his work more than his life. He rushed over, snatched the easel away, and set it aside.

“You’re not even painting at this hour?” Lin Zedong glanced over him. Shi Li’s clothes were spotless—no trace of paint.

At this hour, awake but not working… it looked more like he was waiting for someone.

Shi Li’s eyes flickered. “None of your business. What do you want? Even if you know her, you can’t do anything to me. I know her too. I have her permission.”

Lin Zedong found that oddly amusing. “You’re saying you’re using her likeness without permission—and she’s letting you profit from it?”

“You’re talking nonsense! I’m not making money off it. My comics are free!” Shi Li shot back, glaring.

Lin Zedong had no patience for this. He pulled a folded contract from his pocket.

“Sign this, and I’ll keep your secret.”

“What am I signing?” Shi Li took the contract warily. When he saw the terms—and more importantly, that the new poster he’d drawn already belonged to the Lin Group—his face twisted with anger.

“I won’t sign! I’ll never let people like you get your hands on my work! I’ll expose you on Weibo right now! Let’s see how your stock price holds up then!”

Shi Li might have been a recluse, but he was a well-known comic artist. He understood the games played in the business world.

Lin Zedong’s expression darkened. Sang Ning hadn’t returned next door yet. If he acted now—forced Shi Li to leave a fingerprint on the contract—it would all be settled.

But Shi Li kept his distance, refusing to cooperate.

Just as Lin Zedong’s patience ran out and he was about to make a move, a knock sounded at the door.

His face changed. Before Shi Li could react, he slipped into the bedroom.

While waiting there, he noticed something odd—a set of women’s intimate clothing lying on the bed.

At first, he thought someone might be hiding in the wardrobe. He yanked it open—

Half the closet was filled with women’s clothes.

But according to Shi Li’s background information, he didn’t have a girlfriend.

Lin Zedong was about to use this as leverage when he saw what happened in the living room.

A man raised an ashtray and smashed it into the back of Shi Li’s head.

Shi Li didn’t even have time to react. With his back still turned, he said, “The money I want—not a cent less.”

*Bang.*

Shi Li collapsed to the ground.

The attacker, panicked, grabbed the bloodied ashtray and fled.

The door was left open.

Lin Zedong moved quickly, shutting it. He reached out to help Shi Li—but stopped halfway.

He froze, uncertain.

Moments later, Shi Li stirred.

“H-help me…” Shi Li struggled to crawl toward him, reaching out.

Lin Zedong didn’t dare let him touch him.

His mind was clear.

Near the door, he spotted a climbing rope. It was obvious—the man earlier had intended to strangle Shi Li.

But the moment the ashtray struck and blood splattered, he panicked and ran.

Lin Zedong’s gaze darkened.

“Useless,” he muttered.

He went to the kitchen, searching. It was spotless—not even a rag in sight.

When he had entered earlier, he had deliberately taken off his shoes to avoid making noise.

The other man had rushed in so quickly he hadn’t even noticed the extra pair of leather shoes at the door.

That realization eased Lin Zedong slightly.

He picked up the only thing available in the kitchen—plastic wrap—and wound it around his hands again and again, making sure he wouldn’t leave fingerprints anywhere.

He remembered Lin Zehui once boasting about finding a girlfriend with a “special profession,” mentioning a friend who lived on the third floor and helped him keep watch.

The entire third floor had been rented out, but rarely occupied.

Shi Li’s voice came again.

In the dead of night, even the smallest sound felt amplified.

Lin Zedong’s eyes hardened.

Since someone had already started the job… he might as well finish it.

He stepped past Shi Li—

But Shi Li grabbed onto his pant leg.

Lin Zedong paused.

He didn’t panic or kick him away. Instead, he spoke softly:

“Don’t worry. I’ll save you. I’m going out to call an ambulance for you.”